The Sun. — London, England, 1826-12-07 00:00:00

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT. HOUSE OF LORDS.---WanNESDAY, Dne. 6. CATHOLIC EMANCIPATION. Lord BEXLEY presented a Petition from the Mayor and Corporation of the Borough of Harwich, praying that ***Lordships would not grant any further concessions to the Raman Catholics. The Petition was read, and ordered to lie on the table. CORN LAWS. Lord MAYNARD presented a petition from cer tain Proprietors and Occupiers of Land in the Eastern Division of the Cotinty of Elsex, praying that their Lordships would not ettsn sent to any alteration in the Corn Laws. Lord KING said, as that was probably the last op portunity he should have during the present obscure Session of, ParliaMent, to present petitions to their Lordships, he should take that opportunity of presenting some on the subject of the Corn Laws. Some of the petitioners very properly prayed for a speedy revision of the Corn Laws—he said properly, because promises had been made to revise them year after year, and year passed after year and nothing was done. It was stated three or four years ago, that an alteration was necessary ; but every year it was postponed. Last year it was put off, because the Parliament was on the eve of dissolution ; anti this year it is rat off, because the Parliament is on the eve of the Christ mats vacation. Any reason was thought sufficient for post tponing this measure. Like the petitioners, he was for a speedy revision, because life was short, and legislation was, on the Corn Laws, long and tedious. The Ministers said they had a plait ready ; other persons said the same thing ; and he was ready to believe they had a plan—nay, he believed they had not one, but many plans. Their bureaus were, he had no doubt, like the bureau of the Abbe Skye*, in which there was an immense number of pigeon holes, in each of which there was a Constitution ready to suit whatever patty Might be uppermost. In the Treasury * he believed, there were as many plans and pigeon holes as in the .Abbe's bureau. Did the Brissotins get the upper hand, the Abbe bad ready for them a Federal Constitution ; did the Jacobins pre vail, he presented a Constitution for a Republic, one and indi visible. If the Ministers found the , Somerset and Suffolk interest strong, they came forth with plan No. I ; did some other party prevail, they brought nut plan No. 2 ; if the house was strong, forth came plan No. :3; and if prices rose to a famine level, the plan No. 4 was produced. Each had its scale of duties, all ready drawn up, fitted to any occasion. lie hail no doubt there was a plan, and a moat accommodating plan it was, if that might be • tailed a plan which varied with circumstances and times. The !Noble Lord concluded by presenting petitions against the Corn Lava from the Inhabitants of Newark--this petition also com plained of excessive taxation, and the waste of the public treasure, which created an excuse for the Corn Laws ; from the Incorpo rated Trades of Montrose ; from the Silver Plate Workers of Birmingham; and from the Inhabitants of Kidderminster. The Marquess oC LANSDOWN rose to present nin important petition to their Lordships, which came from a *own which west the second in England, in population, and, per hapti, the frret in manufacturing industry, and which not being re presented its Parliament, had, he thought, a peculiar claim to he beard by both Houses of Parliament, when they came, as the Petitioners did, before their Lordships, to express their calm and 'settled opinions, through the Aithorities best calculated to ex press them accurately, the 'Chamber of Commerce, compOsed of the most opulent and respectable Merchants of Manchester. Ho did not mean, either on that, or on any other occasion, to open up the discussioeWhich was to take place after the recess, ou the subject of the,Corn Laws, nor would he pretend to form any opi nion al tlet measure Ministers meant to submit to Parliament; be felt bin self, however, bound to state with respect to the Petition that it wrs drawn up in a cool and dispassionate manner, that it dietmased the subject of the 00111 Laws calmly and with reason, 'and made use of none of those topics which could inflame the pub lic mind; or which tended to hold up one class of the people as the enemies of the other. The Petition stated the opinions of the Pe titioners on this important subject calmly and dispassionately, and its should therefore movy, that it be read at length.—The Petition was araxtrdiugly read, and ordered to be laid on the table. CORN IMPORTATION INDEMNITY BILL. On the motion of Earl BATHURST, the Indem nity Bill was reed a second time, pursuant to the Order of the Day, and ordered to be committed to-morrow—the third reading to take place on Monday next. GAME LAWS. Lord WHARNCLIFFE gave notice, that after *he liCele, be should call their• Lorflo4iipie attention to the Game Laws, with n view of shaving them that Rome alteration hi these Laws was neettesaty. —Adjourned. HOUSE OF COMMONS.--.WEDNESDAY. ELECTION PETITIONS. . Tho SPEAKER acquainted the House that he lied received from the Clerk of the Crown' in Ireland, two Peti tions, complaining, the one of an undue Return fin the County of Cavan, the other of an undue Return for the County of Galway. Both Petitions were fixed for consideration en the Bth of Ja nuary. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. The SPEAKER reminded the House that a Pe tion respecting the Election 14 the County of Limerick lard been yesterday fixed fur consideration on the 17th of January. On since looking over the Petition, however, it appeared that, al though the Petitioner's were perfectly qualified and entitled to pre sent such a Petition,' yet that the Petition itself was against the uneaccessful candidate. The order was consequently discharged, and the Petition was ordered to lie on the table. NEW WRITS. On the motion of Mr. ABERCROMBIE, New Writs were ordered for the City of Cork, in the room of the Hon. 'C. H. Hutchinson, deceased ; and for the Borough of Bandon. bridge, in the room of Lord Duncannoti, who, having been re turned for the Borough of Bandon-bridge and the County of Kil kenny, had made his election to serve for the latter. STATE OF IRELAND. Mr. MOORS held in his hand a Petition from Mr. Emanuel Hutchinson Orpen, of Exchequer-street, Dublin, on 4 moat important subject, to which he begged to call the serious' attention of the House. The petitioner complained of the power poasessed end exercised by the Roman Catholic Priesthood in Ire land to denounce, by excommunication, persons of their own faith who refused to concur with them in their political objects. The dangerous character of a eontroul of this description must he obvious to the House, and it was not his intention to enter into any details on the subject at that moment, as in the course of the Session various occasions would arise when it might he more ad vantageously discussed. The House would perhaps, however, permit him to make one observation. The power against which Mr. Orpen petitioned was a power not quiescent. It was a power which•he could assure the House was not only capable of being exercised, but which had been actually anti extensively exercised. It was a power, the bare possession of which, even if never exercised, was calculated to give to the Roman Catholic Priest hood a most dangerous and unjust influence over the Roman Catholic laity. One of the most striking characteristics of this power was nil creation of that mixed system of religion and polities which had placed, and which kept, his Majesty's Roman ,Catholic subjects in. Ireland in that position with respect to the State which put it totally out of their powef to give security for the due exercise of whatever political rights, might he conceded to d im . He confitoiell that this consideration, with many others, impressed him most strongly with the conviction which he had long entertained, that on no terms whatever could further conces sion be a f e ly granted to the Rotas Catholic*. The Honourable Gentleman concluded by moving for leave to being up the Petition. Mr. SPRING RICE by no means , rose to op pose the bringing up of the Petition. On th e coetrary, i t was h i s opinion that every man was entitled to aim i • p ain to that House of any grievances under which he laboured. 11 5 re j oiced, therefori, that Mr. Orpen had come to that House; and he trusted, that if Petitions from other individuals of a different nature should come to the House hereafter, the Hon. Member by whom tide Petition had been presented would be disposed to receive them with e qua l readiness. The Hon. Member for Dublin regretted the airobi. nation of religion and politics. Ile (Mr. Rice) regretted it t au . —(Hear, hear, hear.).--Every good man regretted it. It defiled in iiinme " religion, and perverted politics. The error, how ever, wat t institutions which persevered in connecting them. In the laws which withheld their ,evil rights from the Catholics, the Hon. MeMber fin Dublin might trace the origin of the evil of which be complained.--Hear , hear.) Mr. JAMS GRATTAN begged to say one word. Ise could not hear the allegations of the petition which had been Kesented by the Hon. Gentleman, without declaring in his coneeience, that he did not believe that the power possessed by the Catholic Priesthood had been exercised to the extent alleged. He regretted exceedingly that the lion. Member for Dublin should have availed himself of the present opportunity to indulge in a tirade against the Catholics, on grounds which, in his (Mr. Grat tan's) opinion, where wholly untenable. Colonel TORRENS observed, that the Hon. ›ferober-who had presented the petition had, in the course of his observations, uttered one sentiment, which he (Colonel I forrens) could never hear without at least one word of comment. that sentiment was, " that the Catholics could give no security which would render it safe to make :thy dither concession to them." What security was required If the Legislature gave them politi cal power, *Aid Wit theirlove for that power induce them to re• tails it by their conduct? The petition was then brought lip and read. It stated at con siderable length, and in strong terms, the atrocities which had at various times been cot milted in Ireland, and which it imputed principally to Ott influence of the Roman Catholic priesthood; and it prayed, that henceforward, any person delionticing an in dividual by way of excommunication, or ptonouncing,an anathe -Ina upon him, should be stobjtct to a penalty of 201. recoverable by civil bill before the assistant barrister ; and that any individual so aggrieved, Wight sue besides for special damages. -Mt MOORE moved that the petition be printed. Mr. SPRING RICE put it to the lion. Member, whether any good could arise horn printing and circulating such a petition. It might produce much irritation ; and he husted, erefore, that the Hon. Member would withdraw his motion. Mr.MOORE maintained that ,the statements in the petition were incontroVertible. He had merely asserted that which was as notoriona as the sun at noon-day, that the Roman Catholic priesthood possessed the power described in the petition. tie did 1113 t blame them for exercising that power. They bad a spiritual duty to perform, and he gave them credit for performing it conscientiously. But that was the very thing he complained of. The performance of such a supposed duty was calculated to occasion very extensive mischief. He repeated his opinion, that, situated as the Catholics were, a further concession of political power to them was dangerous to the State. Mr. S. RICE observed, that many of the burnings and massacres adverted to in the petition :were as unconneci&l with religious considerations as if they. had taken place in this country. The petitioner then charged the Roman Catholic Clergy with the most enormous vices; and prayed for the esta blishment of a new code of laws against them. The House had the authority of the Attorney-General for Ireland, that the Clergy had not contributed to the excesses which had taken place in that country. What ground, therefore, could there be for the allega tions of the petitioner? He detested the reviving of old animo sities in Ireland. If that hook were opened, let not the House believe that all the guilt would be found on one side. That those dreadful scenes of atrocity to which the petitioner had referred were deeply to be deplored, no one would deny ; but every judi cious man was anxious that they should, as much as possible, be forgotten. If, however, they were referred to, let it be for the purpose of taking such steps as might prevent their recurrence; and not for the purpose of giving a new stimulus to ancient ani mosities. The present petition was a firebrand ; and he entreated the Hon. Member, as he valued the peace of his own country—as be valued his own powers iu that House (which he rejoiced to see were great), not to prevs his motion. Mr. GOULBURN confessed that he thought the Hon. Gentleman, who had just spoken, had taken a tone_ far beyond what the nature of the case required. Every one was aware that petitions were frequently presented, stating the opinions of individuals; in the propriety of which opinions, it was by no means, necessary that the House should concur, before they allowed the petitions to be printed. To select one petition for reprehen sion, on this ground, while petitions, equally objectionable, on the other 'side, were allowed to pass without observation, would not be much to the credit of those by whom it was done, nor make a very favourable impression on the public mind of the justice of their cause. Mr. ABERCROMBIE said, that the Right Hon. Gentleman had mistaken his Hon. Friend, who had merely urged the good sense and good feeling, under the circumstances of the case, of not giving circulation to the allegations of the petition, by ordering it to be printed. Let it be recollected that the question about to be considered and determined was a novel, untouched, untried question; and therefore, that all possible pains should be taken to avert from it every thing tending to the creation of an undue and injurious prejudice. In the appeal, therefore, which his HoM Friend had nnule to the Hon. Member by whom the petition had been introduced, be (Mr. Abercrombie) most sincerely con curred. He would venture to say, that no person in that House cbn templated the approaching discuision on the state of Ireland with a more intense anxiety than he did. For twenty years, he had at tended every discussion in that House on the Catholic Question, and had, on• every occasion, voted in favour of the Catholics. Dining that period, he hail frequently been in Ireland. He had also been in Ireland shies the lust agitation of the question and he declared that be never returned from that country so deeply impressed with the urgency of the occasion. Ho was perfectly convinced that it was their most serious duty to take every means, f not yet too late, to save the integrity of the empire. .B(;_feeling, he asked the House if the subject was not one which required the calmest consideration ? Nothing which had recently occurred in Ireland had altered his view of the great merits of the case, or •had shaken his opinion in favour of Catholic Emancipation ;—a mea sure which he had always thought desirable, and which he now ' thought more desirable than ever. • For himselt; no person had ' ever more steadily and uniformly set his face against violence and intemperance on either side of the question. Mr. Secretary PEEL would not say a word on the general question respecting Ireland. Whenever the subject Caine regularly before the - House, he should be prepared to discuss it to the best of his ability ; but until then he would cautiously avoid all allusion to it. This, however, he would say, that he most sincerely wished the parties on both sides would consult their best interests, by abstaining from all intemperance. Confining him self to the simple question, whether or not it was desirable that the Honourable Member for Dublin should persevere in pressing the petition which he had that evening presented, he (Mr. Peel) could assure the House, that the advice which he should give on the occasion would be given on principle, and without considering from which side of - the House, or from what party the petition emanated.—(Hear, hear, hear.)—On looking at the petition, he found that it was the petition of a single individual. Now every individual had an undoubted right to communicate his sentiments to the House in the form of a petition ; but the House had also an undoubted right to abstain, if they thought proper, from giving those sentiments publicity. lie found, in this petition, that a cer tain class of persons were said to be " notorious for their avarice, drunkenness, and debauchery." Now, he certainly did not think it fair, that under the pretence of petitioning that House, any in dividual should be enabled at his own discretion to give general circulation to statements affecting the personal character of others. He therefore joined with the Honourable Gentleman opposite in expressing his hope that his lion. Friend would not press the printing of the petition—( Hear, hear.) ' • Mr. MOORE then withdrew the motion for print- ing the petition. Mr. GEORGE DAWSON brought up some Papers relative to Portrush Harbour, in Ireland, which veers re ferred to a Committee. CORN LAWS. Mr. KEKEWICH presented a petition from a Surveyor and Land-agent, of Exeter, relative to the Corn Laws.—Ordered to be printed. The SPEAKER, looking at the petition, said, that he much feared that it would he difficult to print it, for it seemed to contain drawings or devices, which appeared to him to be like astronomical and geometrical scales. (This brought se veral Members round the Speiiker's Chair, and occasioned a scene of some little mirth.) The Speaker at length said, that the pe tition might be printed, omitting the marginal scales, otherwise it would require a new description of types. The petition was then handed to the Clerk of the House; hut we were not able to learn whether the lion. Member who pre sented it had waived his desire,for its being printed. Mr. HIJME presented a petition from the Seamen of South Shields, praying for an alteration of the Corn Laws.' POOR OF IRELAND. Mr. GRATTAN gave notice, that in the course of the Session he would move a Resolution relattve to the state of the poor of Ireland. lie would now present a petition from the parish of --, in the county of Mayo, in which the petitioners pramd that, as Catholics, they might be restored to their civ" rights. EMIGRATION. Mr. MONTEITH presented a petition from save ral Assemblies of Maisons in and about Paisley, associated for the object of facilitating their emigration to the, Colonies.—Ordered to lie on the Table, and be printed. COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. 3. WILLIAMS rose to put a question to the Treasury Bench, whether it was the intention of Government to originate any measure arising out of the late Report upon the Court of Chancery ? Mr. PEEL said, that Ministers would - avail them eselves of an opportunity in thepresent Session of expresaing them selves upon the Report EXPORTATION OF MACHINERY. Mr. H UME presented .a Petition from a large bot d for an a lt era ti on o f th e L a ws probi, bitiniracgtiln-m heiEexpakraoretati Pronoarg Machinery, The Honourable Member said, that the Petition involved a principle of very great import ance to this Country. Herecolleeted the. Honourable Gentleman at the bead of the Board of Trade having said, that he hoped the day might soon arrive when the word Prohibition might be ez. punged from our commercial systein. He (Mr. Hume) perfectly agraed with the Honourable Gentleman, and appealed to him whether it was right to continue Prohibitions with respect to Machinery, when he was endeavouring to abolish that system With regard to every other article of indhstry ? The object of the Petitioners in presenting the ptesent Petition was, to obtain ,a repeal of the la* *Bich prohibited them from eiporting the pro didee of their ingenuity and labour to the markets that would afford the best remuneration. _ The Petitioners declared themselves to he totally out of work, and in a state of absolute starvation ; the British manufactures affording them no employment, and the . - foreign markets being shut against them by the prohibitory system persevered in by Ministers. Every man was now allutVed to ex port the produce of his industry to where lie coidd find d purchasers except the Unfortunate maker of machines. The consequence of this teas, that the machinists of England were in a state of des- titution, whilst their sufferings were increased by a knowledge that it is in the power of Ministers, by opening their trade, to relieve their distresses. Those who opposed the exportation of machinery were only'like those who had opposed the opening of every other trade, in order to augment their individual gains, and to secure to themselves a monopoly. He might illus trate the truth of this by referring to many trades, but particularly to the silk trade. The persons engaged in that trade, had done every thing in their power to persuade the country and the Government, that remov►ng the prohibitory would ruin the whole silk trade of England. Ministers, however, had persevered in their enlightened views, and so far from the English silk manufacturers having been ruined, they were even benetitted by the new system. The effect of the law as it now stood, was to encourage the emigration of our most use ful machinists. No apprehension could be entertained of foreigners being enabled to rival us in manufactures by obtaining our ma chinery, for it was in lurAworks that required the use of machi nery, in which our suppNes of coal, iron, our canals, and large capital, gave us the advantage over foreign manufacturers.— The law in its details was most absurd. Thus, he found by the list, that whilst the exportation of even a screw was prohibited, lathes, by which thousands of screws could be made, might he legally exported. What rendered the absurdity greater was, that the potter's lathe was the only lathe that could not be exported ; when it was known that the French and Dresden porcelain ma nufacturers so far excelled ours, that there was no foreign demand for our potter's lathe at all. On the Question that the Petition be brought up, Mr. HUSKISSON appealed to the Hon. Mem ber whether a question of such vast importance to the country could with propriety be discussed at a period when thousands of manufacturers were either out of employ, or but partially employ ed ? He assured the liOn. Member that if a Bill was to be in- troduced, which had for its object the abolition of every restric tion upon the exportation of machinery, it would be productive of the most serious alarm in the manufacturing districts, and would give rise to the presentation of numerous Petitions from all parts of the country to that House. Under such circumstances, then, and particularly in the present state of the manufacturing interests, he implored the Hon. MeMber not to agitate the question of the exportation of machinery at this period.—(Hear, hear.)—He had no objection to the petition being brought up and read, and, if ne cessary, printed; but he did not wish it to go forth to the public, that the whole law with respect to the exportation of machinery might be safely repealed.—(Hear.) _ . . Mr. LitTLETON protested against the sweeping doctrines laid down by the Hon. Member for Aberdeen. He (Mr. Littleton) as a representative of a large manufacturing county, knew that if such doctrines were to go abroad, and to be acted upon by that House, the greatest alarm would be created in the country. He meant nothing offensive to the Hon. Member for Aberdeen, when he stated with confidence that the alarm exist ing among the manufacturing interests was not at all diminished by their knowing the fact that that Hon. Member had taken the lead upon this important question. There was not any one great town, from Nottingham downward, that did not entertain alarm at, and express a wish to be exempted from his measures relative to trade.—(Hear, hear.)—That a Division of the law was neces sary was beyond all doubt, because, as it now stood, though the exportation of certain machines was prohibited, yet it was much doubted whether that law prevented the exportation of the same machinery in parts. lie hoped the lion. Member would not fol low up the petition with any motion on this delicate and Important subj!et... . . Colonel TORRENS observed, that in every science there were general principles, but no universal one. lie was a decided advocate for free trade, but be felt that there were exceptions which nuest to loe observed ; amongst these he consi dered the finer parts of our machinery as the most important. If we could invent and construct machinery cheaper and better than other nations, why, he asked, not avail ourselves of that su periority ?—why should we, by a mistaken policy, give it up or ulnae it with others? This, he conceived, was one of the great sources of the wealth of England, and he trusted that it would not he lightly abandoned—(Hear, hear.)—We were now in the sterm, and should keep every rope tight ; we should let nothing go until fair weather .came round again—(hear, hear.) Sir H. PARNELL did not conceive that any mischief could arise to nay branch of our irade or commerce by the exportation of machinery of whatever description. Mr. BARING thought that it would conduce more to the economy of the time of the House if Hon. Members would avoid meking long speeches upon presenting Petitions, and reserve themselves until the specific questions to which such Peti tions related came properly under their consideration, It would, in his opinion, be much better to adopt this course than to fatigue the House, night after night, with arguments and disputations without end. The opinions just delivered by the Hon. Member for Aberdeen, he hail heard him repeat more than twenty times before ; and he repeated, that he thought they would better suit a dismission upon a specific measure. He was, however, pleased that this discussion had taken place, as it had called forth a Gentleman , whose talents promised to be a great addition to those who thought with him (Mr. Baring) It had been for so long time the habit to look upon any man as a Goth who dissented from the mo dern doctrine of political economy, that he could not help congra tulating the House upon the accession of the Hon. Member for Ipswich (Col., Torrens), and he hoped to find that Hon. Member coming forward more frequently upon his side of the question--- (Hear, bear.)—lf we were now driven to the question of an lin qualified exportation, or a total restriction of machinery, he, for one, should prefer the latter. But we were nut driven to this extremity, and the best course would be to appoint a proper tribunal, who should have the power of deciding the articles of machinery which might be exported, and those which were prohibited. Mr. WARBURTON said, that the argument of the Hon. Member for Ipswich (Colonel Torrens) was founded upon the assumption that we possessed a motropoly of the more ingenious and complicated machinery used in our manufactures, and‘tbut we had a right to enforce a continuance of that mono poly. He denied the fact that we possessed it. But even if we had that monopoly, how could we hope to retain or enforce it ? How could we prevent persons from copying the different models of that machinery which were regularly published in our Ency clopaedias and other publications? The fact was, that by this monopoly we were sacrificing a certain profit for an uncertain gain. He trusted that no specific measure would be introduced upon this subject, but that the regulation should be left as it was at present with the Board of Trade. • Mr. Secretary PEEL was sure that there existed generally but one feeling as to the impropriety of introducing this question at such a peried•of manufacturing depression and dis tress as the present. He confessed that he was not satisfied with the Hon. Gentleman's iirgurrient relative to the drawings of ma chinery, published i n our Encychpredias, for the last book of that kind was publish e d i n 1821, s i nce w hi c h man y va l ua bl e im provements had been made in our machinery. Mr. WARBURTON—Yes, but they are secrets. Mr. Secretary PEEL—No doubt they were se crets ; +but were we not to profit by those secrets, and avail our selves of the advantages which they gave us over our neighbours? —(Hear.)--With respect to the Hon. Member for Aberdeen, he thought that that Gentleman ought to be the last to make a charge of inconsisteney_ upon any party. That Hon. Member had, not very long since, by a variety of arguments, pointing out the oppression and hardship under which the labouring classes men upon the eatn e f oo ti ng, i n d uce d the House t o repea l the laboured, anti repr esent i ng the necess i ty o f pl ac i ng m a sters and Combination Laws. Well, they did so ; but, ere ten months bad elapsed, they beeame wiser, and they found it necessary, not absolutely to retrace their stem perhaps, but certainly to re-enact a considerable portion of the old law.—(Hear, hear.)—As in me chanics it .was unfit to be governed by pure mathematical prin ciples only, without allowance for friction, and the weight of the atmosphere, so, in political economy, it was fallacious to proceed on theory only, without due regard to the particular circumstances of the times. Mr. BRIGHT observed, that the effect of particu lar systems of law war frequently over-rated, their real operation being ascertained correctly, as soon as they were repealed. Such had been the case with the Combination Laws ; and, as soon as the Statutes forbidding the export of machinery were abrogated, it might be found that they had materially contributed to the protee tion of the manufacturer. He trusted, that in the present Session, 1, the true principles of philosophy would be better understood, and more strictly observed, and that no sudden and rash change in the existing law would be attempted. The Petition was then then brought up, and read. Mr, HUME availed himself of the question, that it he laid upon the table ) to Make a few remarks in reply.to what had been advanced by several Members. He denied that he in tended to do any thing.hastily and intemperately ; and contended, that such had not been his course with regard to the Combination Laws. An attempt had been made by the Right Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Peel) to cast upon him the odium of having recommended the change in those laws, which change was subsequently aban doned. The fact, in the first place, was, that the change had not been abandoned, but in its most essential parts had been preserved ; and that change, if had, it had been recommended unanimously by a Committee of 52 Members. Had he (Mr. Hume) stood alone upon that subject, he should have been proud of the opinions expressed in the Report. The proceedings of the subsequent Committee had been a complete fudge, and nothing had been established to shew that the first Committee was in error on the general principles it had laid down. On the subject of the Petition just laid upon the Table, it was in evidence before the House, that in France the machinery employed in the cotton ma nufacture was quite equal to that made in England—the difference being only, that in the former it cost perhaps forty or fifty per cent, more than in the latter. This country enjoyed, therefore, nothing like that monopoly contended for by the Honourable Member for Ipswich. At present, while the exportation was prohibited, foreign countries deprived us of the ablest hands, and in a short time would need no assistance whatever. Precisely this effect had been produced by the refusal of Government to allow the export of coal. France and the Netherlands had thereby been induced to depend upon their own resources, and to raise their own - coal ; and they were now quite in dependent of supplies either from Great Britain or elsewhere...-. To this conclusion he and many others had long ago come, that it was most absurd to keep upon the Statute Book a mass Of inconsistency, which produced the additional evil of encouraging contraband trade. NEW WRITS. New Writs were ordered for Harwich in the room of Sir N. C. Tinditll, who has accepted the office of Solicitor-General ; and for Wallingford, in the room of Colonel Robarts, who has taken the Chiltern Hundreds. On the Motion of Mr. W. SMITH, certain Re turns were ordered, relative to the quantity of Malt in the Distil leries of Great Britain. CORN LAWS.—ADJOURNMENT OF THE HOUSE. Mr. HUSKISSON presented a Petition from Old and New Lanark, praying that no alteration might be made in the Corn Laws. Mr. BARING moved for a Return of the Average Price of Wheat, Barley, Rye, Oats, &c. in Guernsey, in the years 1821 and 1826 ; and for Copies of any restriction prevail ing in that Island against the export of grain, or duties upon its import. The Honourable Member observed, that he understood that Guernsey enjoyed a free trade in corn ; that it might be ex ported to, and imported from, all parts of the world ; and he wished, if possible, to ascertain, what the effect of such a state of law had been. He might take this opportunity of inquiring what was the intention of Ministers with regard to the recess, and how soon after what were usually called the Christmas Ho ' lidays 2 Parliament would again be assembled . ? Mr. PEEL was not quite sure that a particular day had been determined upon, but he apprehended that the House would adjourn to an early day after the usual holidays. Mr. BARING added, that it was of importance not to leave the country long in uncertainty upon the question of the Corn Laws. Mr. HUME confirmed the statement of his lion. Friend, that Guernsey was free from all duty on the export or import of grain ; the Island was besides exempted from the pay ment of taxes—yet this country was called upon, nevertheless, to pay for the whole civil establishment, and even to pay and clothe the militia. He had repeatedly pressed upon Government the injustice of such an exemption and charge. Mr. G. DAWSON gave notice of his intention, after the recess, to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the better Maintenance of Illegitimate Children in Ireland. JOINT STOCK COMPANIES . Mr. D. W. HARVEY gave notice, that unless the Law Officers of the Crown anticipated him, and thus rendered Inv interference unnece*eary, be would, on an early day after the adjournmeikt, move for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the Formation and Liabilities of Joint Stock Companies. COURT OF CHANCERY. Mr. SPENCE, pursuant to notice, rose to move for certain returns relative to the arrears in the Court of Chancery. His object, he said, was to show, that in consequence of the great pressure of business, it was impossible" for any Judge, whatever might be his physical strength and abilities, to hear cases of fur ther directions within that reasonable time which the suitors in Chancery had a right to expect. That such delays existed in cases of further directions, was not disputed by any body, and his own experience afforded ample evidence of the fact. Independent of the arrear of cases of further directions,before theLordChancellor, before the Vice-Chancellor they amounted to 188, and before the Master of the Rolls to 57. He also wished to obtain a return of the number of bills filed on the Equity side of the Exchequer for three years prior to 1817 ; anda return of the num ber of Decrees on thq Equity side of the Exchequer, during the same period. The Hon. and Learned Gentleman then stated that he would move for a similar Return of the business done on the Equity side of the Court of Exchequer, for three years subsequent to the year 1817, in order to show how far the regulations adopted in that year had proved efficient for the pur pose of relieving the Courts of Chancery from the mass of busi ness with which they were overloaded. He understood that while the Chancery Courts were overloaded with business, not more than tree causes were - at present set down in the Equity side of the Exchequer before the Chief Baron. He hoped, therefore, that he should have the concuerence of the Right Hon. Secretary (Mr. Peel), when he moved for a Return of the business done in the Court of Exchequer, both on the Law and Equity side, during the period which he had mentioned ; and the other returns which he had noticed, Mr. BATTLEY seconded the motions. Mr. Secretary PEEL, after having heat& the terms of the motions read from the Chair, observed, that there were some things in them of which no notice had been given, and to these he could not agree in the absence of those who were most competent to judge of the matter. He did not know that there would be any object►on to make the returns as minutely and fully as the Hon. and Learned Gentleman chose. But, tir the pre sent, he could agree to nothing beyond the Returns of which the Hun and Learned Gentleman had given notice. Mr. SPENCE then said, that he would prefer withdrawing his motions for the present, in order to bring them forward when the Gentlemen to whom the Right Hon. Secretary alluded should be present in their places. The. motions were accordingly withdrawn. APPEALS FROM THE COLONIES. Mr. HUME then rose to move, according to no tice, for a Return of Appeals from the Colonies during ... a certain period, which was but the revival of an Order made in April last to the same effect. It was well known that 'an Appe al . lay from the decisions of . the Colonial Courts to the King m Council. These Appeals were heard before a Committee of the Privy Coun cil, and that Court had as much need of reform as any other . Court. It was, in fact, no regular Court. It only sat for a very few days in the year, and the times of its sitting were uncertain ; and there remained now an arrear of eighty Appeals 'to be dis posed of. He concluded by moving, in the Maud form of an Ad dress to the Crown, for a " R e t u rn of Appeals from the various British*Colonies now remaining undisposed of; of the Number of Days in the Year (luring which the Court of Appeals sat; of th e Fees of its Officers," &c. Mr. Secretary PEEL had no objection to the mo tion, and hoped the Hon. Gentleman would have no objection to an amendment which he (Mr. Peel) intended to move. The amendment, or rather addition, was this, that the number of Ap peals from Guernsey and Jersey should be added. His object was that they should have an account of all the judicial business of the Privy Council. Mr. HUME bad no objection to the amen d men t, and would hiMself have included Guernsey and Jersey, had he not been informed that it.was not necessary. The motion, as a mended, was then put and carried. DEBTORS IN PRISON. Mr. HUME then rose to move for a return of per sons imprisoned for debt; and his object was, when he should h ave procured the return, to have a Committee appointed to con sider of some plan for diminishing the number of arrests on Meane Process. There was hardly any other country where the law was so tud in this respect as inthis country. He concluded by mov:. ing for a return of the prisoners for debt in England and Wales, SLAVE TRADE . of his . e e xclusive of Crown debtors, d is ti ngu i s hi ng t h ose i n d e b te d i n l ess sums than 501. and 20/..—The motion was agreed to. Sir A. GRANI B ‘, in vtEhe absence friend Sir T. Aeland, moved for a Return of such Correspondence as bad taken place between his Majesty's Government and Foreign Powers, -elative to the Slave Trade, as had not already been laid before the House. The motion was agreed to, and similar returns were ordered of the Correspondence on the same subject with the Authoritiea at the Cape of Go,od Hope, Sierra Leone, and other places. THE ASHANTEE WAR. Mr. HUME gave notice, that if the Right Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary for Foreign Affair', was in the House to-morrow, he would move for the Papers, Correspondence, and other Documents, showing the source and progress of the War now carrying on on the coast of Africa — he me ant the Ashantee War. ONE POUND NOTES. Sir A. GRANT laid before the House the Papers which had been ordered respecting One Po und Notes —Ordered to lie on the table. The other Orders of the Day were then dis p osed of, a nd the House adjourned at a Quarter after Eigt_____do:C" PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF COMMONS, NOTICES OF MOTION FOR THIS DAY. 1. Mr. Hume—Copy of the Reports of f the Commissioners of Istlo.tg._ l 2' the Cape of Good Hope ; also, of Lieutenant-Colon et mination ; and of all Correspondence between the Colonial DeZI meat and the Commissioners of Inquiry, and between Mr. carp and the same Department. 2. Mr. blartin (of Galway)—To more that the names attaohed to spa titian of Shareholders of the Arigna Mining ComPanYl.P ra Y ing M A r. s H ha u n in tee e— w7r. House to institute an inquiry into the conduct of the lorectors a?,_ 3. Officers of the said Company, presented to the House on the 3 1 " of December, be printed. ORDERS OF THE DAY FOR THIS DA Y. 1. St. Domingo Postage Bill—Committee. Hume—Co rrespondence relating to the source and progress of the 2. Exchequer Bills (10,000,000) Bili--Report. Transfer Of Aids 1341—Report.. . NOTICES GIVEN 'YESTERDAY. After the Holidays. Mr. Harvey—To regulate the formation, Mr. James Grattan—To propose Resolutions respecting the condition Mr. iteassyßtoo Brow n— Pap e rs rn Com panies. relating to a Po li ce Report in nnitition Join of the pookof Ireland. Mr. George Dawson—Bill to provide for the better Maintenance 01 ' il' legitimate children in Ireland. and to define the liability a the County t Zb LNON, THURSDAY EVEN I N G , DECEMBER 7, 1926' Monday and We received last night a t i l i e er s ca e nni v t e o r np a a l p F e r r e g n c t li o p r o o p r e l s i ° ,: l , but it is Tuesday, extremelydifc a u n it dl , or, as they accounts given in artehecalEletd° day morning. Th ese opinion t of the actual state of thin g s-whether, -- news from Spain, Fie Refugees relative to the invasion of Portugal papers are principally filled with by the R e b e l s have re-entered Portugal amongst the conflicting the : it? 'a c ; actually invaded her with hostile ,iletidleat R e( I oy y a e i s is t t er s - ; . in despot'' , intentions. ,„ The Etoile of Tuesday morning states that an P.' press on the which left Madrid 26 th N ov., an d3r rived in ,Paris on the 2d • t ins . seems to have broqld despatches announcing that Spain offers to give every kind of satisfaction lest of th e Porto Portuguese . Refugees, and to take measure% f such a nature that if they are executed they will rel-ect every attempt of the descri • ofthat which bs * O ption taken place taken absolutely impossible : and the s ame For yi alludes to a statement given in another Journal that $ R e no fe egraphic Despatch has announced to the Government____ that the King of SPAIN ilitd isitied s Decree, to the effect that the Portuguese Refugee° shall be obliged to withdraw to the distance o f 1;114 leagues from the frontier of the kingdom. This bitter account seems to correspond with (yawl. reports from Madrid of the 26th Nov - ., Published in the Cnstittl. tionnel Of Monday,of the tmeasiness manifested anion, King of SPAIN on hearing of the invasur, and the Journal des Debars actuall publishes t!': decree, dated the - 26th November, for disarming th . refugees, and ordering the Marquis de CHAVES.76_ the Viscount de CUNELLAS to quit Spain. I-lad_ a o e . intelligence, therefore, stopped here, we s hould. 1 1 _1. have reason t o doubt its correctness, or the should the Spanish Government in the orders it had gly . a bst but the Quotidienne of Tuesday positively 101°,1h, it has received a letter from Madrid, dated the -47' the announcing the rapid strides of the rebels : that column which left Lugo had entered Chaves , th e fr; rison of - Which to an an ,joined the Royalists : itid SILVEYRA'S divisiohad passed the Pou r° t h e y taken possession of Miranda ; a nd tha t or , are proceeding with all haste to carg o , operations on the line of the Douro. The so ot letter sates, that on the 29th the French Amblf,ofs had a conference with the KING, and that gre,: th o b, ta. made the most urgent representations, but. 1 ' n t ho flied nothing but vague promises of rieurolq° al • leS part of Spain._ The Courier Francais o f ' osses also positively states that the Ministers arc ill t' t h e y sion of news from Madrid to the 28th, thouguE , to il e only p u blish it to the 26th. The silence of the _0 of W e dnesday on these important subjects throw s _Su iliti, doubt over the correctness of its previous .our and tends to the belief that the news in t he other j nals is not unfounded. ',ea ly i teadY ; In the meantime the French Funds ar, e r i ie. I. lc b° they rose on Monday to 991. Ssc., leftso "ii-0f.'6,50, rather declined on Tuesday, having ° 1 wer. e A lso rathe r ° and 71f. 50c.; the Exchanges sr ia , Dse. ',--- P . aais, STOCK EXCHANGE, BioNpAT EVIL/4:,.. . Three ' per Five per Cents., 99f. 80c 79 75c. 7 00. ""`'. „„ •771 , Cents.; 71f. 15c. 30e. 50c. .65 • c.soc. D itto, Npie 11 " --5 ' }Pr 77f. 10c.; Cortes Bonds, 101 • "Royal 521 52 ; P r tiara 705 f. 710 - 1.-Exchan e One'Al peg, Of, 40c. i Months, 25f. 20c. for mone y. g ' c. f: PARIS STOCK EXCHANG E , T zsnALY Evssll46' ng e OW Five per Cents. 99f. 90c 45c.1190. 115 c. • Three P er 1 ,14,1 0 7rtif. 75c. "e• 70c. 75c.. ; Bank"Aetions, 21 0751 ' ; goys l , di en tto t" 4 7sl. ise. 70c. 55c. 60c. ; Cortes Bonds, 1011; Haytian 705 f *5l , O c ' EXCHANGE ' . . . thl --One month, 251 45t. ; twee mon- , or Money. We received inc lll4 the Argenic o f the ,i 29th ult. which contains a Proclamation issuea:al, uen. YEnmALoirr at Tiflis, on the, 22d Au"sit'bew t dressed to the Inhabitants of Georgia , exhortilig ,a o rally round the standard of their EmPtnoo, promising to carry the war into the heart ae of Fer o; and revenge, the outrages committed by the in° of tiaprgia. el lost l t " T I Hamburgh Papers to the 30th ult. reached 119' 15tH ' night, but furnish nothin g im p brtant. ult. at which time no apps of Winter hot I gen ce from St. Peterab urgh earance reaches d o wn to th, e , ke a place. s EXCUANGES ow I.OVDON• Hambur Nov. 28.-56 7/ —two months, SO Leipsie, Nov.N 24.—Three months, 6 I'7. Berlin, Nov. 25.—Three months, 6 29/. ______—_-,--_-----.---__ The Debate which took'place in the House of 0' 111 ; coons last night, on the, presentation of a Petiti°ll an individual, complaining of the conduct of ROO Catholic ,Priests in Ireland in excommunicating Per' sons belonging to their flock, and of another by . HUMS from certain Manufacturers, praying for A re' peal of the Statute which prohibits the exportitioll